Michigan

Tigers notes: Santiago might be headed for DL

AP PhotoDetroit players look on as Ramon Santiago is tended to after injuring himself while diving for a ball during Wednesday's loss to Oakland.

OAKLAND -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland expects Ramon Santiago to be placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a separated left shoulder suffered Wednesday while diving for a line-drive single hit by Rob Bowen in the seventh inning.

"My chest hit the grass and forced the separation," said Santiago, who had his left arm in a sling after Wednesday's loss to the Athletics. "They will X-ray me tomorrow and see. Maybe they will put me on the DL."

Tigers trainer Kevin Rand popped the shortstop's shoulder back into place on the outfield grass.

Replacing Santiago, who can play second, short and third, won't be easy. There isn't an obvious replacement in the minor league system. Leyland said Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen both can spell Edgar Renteria at short, and Ryan Raburn played second on Wednesday to give Placido Polanco a day off.

Detroit might consider Toledo third baseman Mike Hessman, who is tied for the International League lead with 20 homers, or another catcher such as Toledo's Dane Sardinha with Inge (oblique pull) unable to hit for a few more days and Ivan Rodriguez not getting a break.

"We have to look at Clete Thomas, too," Leyland said.

Outfielder Thomas twisted his right ankle while sliding back into second base Tuesday night, and was unavailable to play Wednesday. Leyland hopes Inge will be available to play both ways Friday. He can play defense but the injury restricts his swing.

"I feel the same as yesterday," Inge said. "They say that's a good sign."

Back to normal

Leyland said Tuesday's "piggyback" start of having Armando Galarraga come in behind Dontrelle Willis worked in getting Willis back on the mound, but said he won't use the unorthodox method when the No. 5 rotation spot comes up again Monday. He will discuss that rotation spot with general manager Dave Dombrowski before deciding what to do.

Willis didn't allow a run in four innings but gave up five walks, and Galarraga served up a three-run homer to Eric Chavez.

"Five walks is too many," Leyland said. "But there were some signs of good hope. I liked what he did when he was in trouble. With Dontrelle, it's mental."

Leyland said Willis, who had been on the disabled list with a right knee injury, has no physical limitations.

Move coming

Leyland said there was a good chance a move will be made by Friday involving reliever Miguel Batista (biceps tendinitis), whose rehabilitation assignment with Toledo is winding down. He has struck out seven and allowed one unearned run in 6 1/3 innings with the Mud Hens.

He would not comment on what the move would be, saying he would discuss it with Dombrowski.

Aquilino Lopez appears to be a possibility to be sent down. He's 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA, but has struggled lately with 12 hits and six walks allowed in his past 8 1/3 innings. Also, Casey Fossum was not impressive in his first two outings against the A's, giving up four runs on four hits without getting an out Wednesday. Five of six batters he has faced got hits.

Draft day

Detroit selects 21st in the first round of Thursday's amateur draft, and hopes to continue its recent first-round success. It has taken Justin Verlander, Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and Rick Porcello over the past four years. Verlander won 35 games the last two seasons, Maybin and Miller were packaged to acquire Willis and Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins and Porcello is 3-6 with a 2.87 ERA for Lakeland.

The Tigers' four first-rounders prior to them never developed: Matt Wheatland, Kenny Baugh, Scott Moore and Kyle Sleeth.

Detroit believes in taking the best player on the board regardless of position, and two top talents who could drop to them because of high signing bonus demands a la Porcello are first baseman Eric Hosmer of Plantation, Fla., and Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High pitcher Gerrit Cole.

Odds & ends

-- Leyland on the 22-walk game (12 by A's pitchers and 10 by the Tigers) that Oakland won, 5-4, in 11 innings Tuesday night: "Twenty-two walks in a major league game is a disgrace."

-- Fernando Rodney (Toledo) and Joel Zumaya (Lakeland) both threw two scoreless innings Tuesday on their first rehabilitation assignment appearances. Rodney got the win against Louisville, and both had one strike out.

"The bright lights went on, and they turned it up a notch," said Leyland, noting that Zumaya had some soreness but nothing to be alarmed about.

-- Fossum had flown Tuesday from Louisville, Ky., to Dallas and then San Francisco, taken the Bay Area Rapid Transit system to McAfee Coliseum, pulled on his No. 49 uniform in the clubhouse and jogged to the bullpen. Three innings later, he entered the game, having been up for about 15 hours.

"It was a long day," Fossum said, "but I was expecting to pitch. I told myself that I came here to pitch."